Tennis team travels to Tulsa to see where they stand
- Mar. 1, 2012
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Tune-up matches are in the past for the undefeated Kansas women’s tennis team.
This weekend, the Jayhawks travel to Tulsa, Okla., to take on Tulsa and North Texas—their first matches against ranked foes this season. Tulsa is No. 30 in this week’s ITA team rankings, while North Texas is 10 spots lower at No. 40.
Despite a 7-0 start to dual play, Kansas is currently unmarked.
“I think the girls are really excited about playing some ranked teams this weekend and getting to see where we are actually standing,” said Kansas coach Amy Hall-Holt.
The matches this weekend are the team’s last non-conference duals before beginning conference play one week from today. The Jayhawks will play North Texas on Saturday and face the host, Golden Hurricane, Sunday. Both matches are set to begin at noon on their respective days.
“The competition level will be harder, but I feel like we will match up well just because we have so much talent on our team and we have a lot of grinders,” said sophomore tennis player Dylan Windom. “I feel like it’s going to be a great weekend this weekend.”
At 8-4, North Texas will likely be the toughest competition Kansas has faced to date. Six of the 12 matches the North Texas Mean Green have played this year were against ranked teams, including 4-3 wins over No. 50 Cal Poly and No. 53 Kansas State.
The Golden Hurricane is probably an even bigger challenge for the Jayhawks, after beginning their season 7-2. Tulsa has also taken down Kansas State, No. 31 Oklahoma and No. 33 North Carolina State, with its only losses coming to top-25 teams.
“When we’re playing points against each other, you’ve got to rise to the level of your competitor,” Hall-Holt said. “I felt last week, with the level that we played on, right now we feel very confident and we can compete with anybody.”
Despite being unranked as a team, one of Kansas’ very own joined this week’s individual singles rankings. Freshman Maria Belen Ludueña, who is one of two Jayhawks undefeated in singles play, is now ranked No. 118 in the ITA Division I Rankings.
“I feel so good and I’m so happy because I have a ranking,” Ludueña said. “It’s amazing for me because when I came here, I thought the first three months would be so difficult.”
